AuthorTopic: 1967 (Read 1534 times)

Cant help thinking that 1967 was the Beatles ultimate year when everything cametogether and they could do no wrong. Of course it was the summer of love ( and LSD )

A massive incredible album released on June 1st ...Sg PepperA 6 track double EP released December .................... Magical Mystery Tour.

The music on the EP was so good, I feel they should have added say 6 more tracks and made Magical Mystery Tour into an LP...a nice big cover opening up .....with all the goodies and cartoon work.... wow !

Don't forget they released three amazing singles that year as well - Strawberry Fields/Penny Lane, All You Need Is Love/Baby You're a Rich Man and Hello Goodbye/I Am The Walrus.

They also made the MMT film, recorded several songs that would later appear on the Yellow Submarine soundtrack, and recorded more experimental songs which went unreleased until later such as What's The New Mary Jane and You Know My Name.They also found time to gain an interest in the Maharishi and TM, and Paul was on the board of the organizers of the Monterey pop festival (it was McCartney who recommended that Jimi Hendrix was in the festival line-up). And John and Paul appeared on the Rolling Stones song We Love You as well.

I think the fact that they finished touring in 1966 left them with a lot more time on their hands that they had previously been used to, and they used this spare time to very good effect in 1967. Even though things like the MMT film weren't always received well, it was an adventurous and brave thing to do for the world's top "pop" band.

nimrod

So, looking at Brian's death and the disaster of MMT on the British TV, things COULD go wrong.

actually I was around at the time and MMT double EP was great, no-one had ever released a double EP before especially one with a book in it, so it was very very cool, you didnt know what was coming next

actually I was around at the time and MMT double EP was great, no-one had ever released a double EP before especially one with a book in it, so it was very very cool, you didnt know what was coming next

And here in the US, Capitol gave us a booklet in the LP full of clues.

1963 was a very important year for the band as well - between them, their two albums were number one in the UK album chart for well over half the year, while they also had three number one singles in the UK (four if you count PPM), plus they released what is still the most successful EP in UK chart history and saw several Lennon/McCartney songs become hits for other artists.They played at the Royal Variety Performance, moved from Liverpool to London, went from support act to top of the bill on their national UK tours, made their first steps towards international stardom with a successful tour in Sweden, and began making moves towards conquering Europe and America, booking appearances there for early the following year.The Beatles Book Monthly was launched, the word "Beatlemania" was coined, and they began to get recognition from serious journalists, not just the local Liverpool press and the tabloids and teen magazines.1963 was the year they outgrew Britain and began to make waves all around the world.

Did someone say that 'Magical Mystery Tour' was a 'disaster'?No way, Jose! If 'MMT' (hit and miss, made in '67) was bad, then the first series of 'Monty Python's Flying Circus' (hit and miss, made in '69) may as well be judged in the same way.

In Britain today I think the high water-mark is seen to be the 'Revolver' era more than the 'Pepper' era.

However, I think 1967 did see the release of the song that I would play to a martian who wanted to know what the Beatles were all about.....'Penny Lane'. Not just poppy, not just clever, but poppy AND clever.